Self-locking key ring



y 4, 1954 J. F. HETZ 2,677,267

SELF-LOCKING KEY RING Filed July 16. 1952 ,/////////II//I///II//I/A 7////I///I/I/I///IIIIII/,

INVENTOR. rim 15s f: #572,

BY ammzaw ATTORNEYS.

katented May 4, 1954 TENT OFFICE SELF-LOCKING KEY RING James F. Hetz, Cincinnati, Ohio Application July 16, 1952, Serial No. 299,097

4 Claims.

My invention relates to the provision of an improved self-locking key ring.

It is an object of my invention to provide a selilockin key ring which may be manufactured cheaply and which will be of durable construction.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a self-locking key ring having means to prevent the key ring from accidentally being pulled apart.

Another object of my invention is to provide a key ring in which there are means provided to insure against the accidental displacement of keys therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a self -locking key rin which is adapted to be used in connection with the modern type of key now commonly in use.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of the following description and from reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation showing my novel self-locking key ring,

Figure 2 is an end elevation,

Figure 3 is a side elevation with parts removed,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the elements employed in the key ring of this invention,

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a greatly enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 and Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but showing the key ring in that position when a key is shown in process of being either placed on or off the key ring.

Referring now to the drawings it will be observed that my novel self-locking key ring comprises a main body plate including a smaller diameter open jawed end and a larger diameter loop. The smaller open jawed end comprise the jaw members it! and l i while the larger diameter loop is indicated at l2. Also included in my novel key ring are a pair of notched discs 13 which are fastened one on either side of the key ring by means of a rivet M passed through the disc and a center hole It provided in the main body plate of which the jaw member I! is a part. Each disc I3 is notched as at [6.

The key ring is assembled by placing a notched disc l3 on either side of the open jawed end of the key ring main body plate. These discs are assembled in such a manner as to permit free rotation thereof, the rivet 14 at the same time holding them in fairly snug engagement with the body of the ring. It is pointed out that the exterior edges of the members It and H form portions ii and I8 respectively of a circle having its center at [5. The main ring portion l2 corresponds generally to a circle having a center at I9. It is a specific feature of my invention that a lin passed through the center points It and I 9 will intersect the thin jaw iii of the open jawed end of the key ring so as to provide a substantial portion 20 extending beyond the point of intersection just described. This is a material aid to imparting rigidity to the ring structure.

It should be noted that the open end jaw members l0 and II are so arranged as to provide a channel 2| of sufficient width to accept key of modern design.

The special construction of each of the discs l3 forms a distinct feature of my invention. Such construction is best shown in Figures 5 and 6. In these figures it will be seen that each of the discs is essentially a flat member having its outer edges turned as indicated at 22. Each of the discs i3 is so constructed that when it is centered in place on the ring by means of the rivet M the outer edges 22 will engage about the outer edges l1 and I8 of the open jawed end members l0 and II respectively.

As best seen in Figure 6, it will be observed that where the discs 13 come into contact with the member l2, the turned-in edges 22 must ride on the exterior surfaces of such member I2. This slightly cocks each of the discs in the direction of the member [6 with the result that the gripping function of the turned-in edges 22 about.

this member [0 is enhanced. The purpose of so constructing the disc 22 is to insure'against the thin, unsupported jaw member it being accidentally pulled away from the jaw member I I. Were it not for this construction and were the member I!) somehow pulled apart from the member II it will be apparent that keys on the loop 12 might more easily spill therefrom. In this connection it should be noted that the added portion 20 of the member it requires a greater distortion 01 such member before the danger point is reached.

In use the discs [13 are so positioned that each of the U-shaped notches I8 is aligned with one edge adjacent the extreme end 2B of the thin jaw member It. The key 23 is then advanced to the larger diameter loop end l2 of the key ring 3 main body plate. As the key is so advanced the notched disc on either side of the ring rotates freely until the key reaches the loop i2. After the key is thus advanced to the center of the loop I2 the discs [3 may then be rotated somewhat further so as to properly seal the entrance channel 2|. To this end a further feature of my invention lies in the operation of the turned-in edges 22 in conjunction with the notches it. Thus, after a key is placed on the loop I2 and the discs 13 rotated a bit further, it will be apparent that the notch portion l5 may engage about the loop I2 in the area generally indicated at 24 in Figure 7. The turned-in edges 22 which, of course, are broken in the region of the notch [6 forms an abutment which serves to keep the notches I6 about either side of the loop I2 in the area 24 until such time as the user forces the discs to the exit position. Even should the notches l6 become disengaged from the portion 24 accidentally, it is still unlikely that both of the discs would take such position that the notches l6 would register with each other so as to permit the key to leave the ring accidentally.

In operation then, the parts are assembled in such a manner as to permit free rotation of the notched discs [3, which when aligned with the opening provided by the jaw ends Hi and II of the key ring main body plate permit admission of a key. The key is then advanced to a larger diameter loop end [2 of the key ring main body plate. As a key is advanced to this larger diameter loop end I2 the notched discs i3 on either side of the key ring plate rotate freely. After the key is permitted to advance to the center of the loop [2, the discs are rotated an additional amount so as to seal the entrance channel opening 2|. Furthermore, the notched portions it may engage about the portions 26 so as to hold the discs l3 in such position as to prevent a key from leaving the main ring portion $2. This looks the key in the larger diameter loop end i2 so that it cannot be removed, other than accidentally (which is very unlikely as above pointed out) until the notched discs I3 are rotated and re-aligned in exact position with the channel opening 2| in the open jawed end of the key ring main body plate.

It is emphasized that the thin jaw is) of the opened jawed end of the key ring main body plate must extend substantially past the center line of the ring, this extension being indicated at 26. This is the preferred arrangement.

In addition it is further emphasized that the discs [3 must be of sufficient size that the turnedin edge 22 will engage about the exterior edges i! and I8 of the open end jaw members it and ii respectively. This further adds to the rigidity of the device by preventing the member H) from being pulled away from the member H. These turned-in edges 22 exert a gripping pressure on the outside edges I! and I8. By looking the thin law IQ of the key ring main body plate in this manner, the possibility of spilling keys from the larger diameter loop end I2 is eliminated.

It is to be understood that although I have iii described my invention as embodying certain structures and particular arrangement, I do not intend to be limited by such structures and arrangement except insofar as they are specifically set forth in the sub-joined claims. It will be further understood that modifications and changes in my invention may be made Without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and what I desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A self-locking key ring comprising a main body plate having a large loop at one end and a smaller open jawed arrangement at the other end, said open jawed arrangement including a relatively thin member and a relatively thick member, said thin and thick members defining a passageway therebetween communicating with said loop, and a pair of discs rotatably fastened one at either side of said main body plate, each of said discs being notched a width generally corresponding to the width of said passageway, each of said discs having turned-in edges engaging about the outer edges of said thin and thick members.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said disc. are fastened to said plate by means engaging said discs and said relatively thick member.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said pass'age way defines a tortuous path about said engaging means and in which said thin member has a free end extending substantially past the center line of the plate passing through said engaging means.

4. A self-locking key ring comprising a substantially fiat plate having a large loop the exterior edges of which generally correspond to a circle, the ends of said loop being return bent and configured to have exterior edges corresponding to a smaller circle, one 01" said ends terminating in a member corresponding in cross section to that forming said large loop and the other of said ends terminating in a member considerably thicker, said first mentioned member and said thicker member defining a channel communicating with said loop, and a pair of discs fastened to said thicker member on either side of said plate, said discs having turned-in edges adapted to engage about those exterior edges which correspond to the smaller circle and to ride on said large loop in the area of 5 id return bend, said discs having notches of a width corresponding to that of said channel.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 221,571 Jopson Nov. 11, 1879 681,891 Swanson ept. 3, 1901 723,208 Mountford Mar. 17, 1903 1,187,471 Ruskin June 13, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 151,373 Great Britain Sept. 27, 1920 

